Large round baler having baling chamber constructed so as to facilitate the flow of harvest into the chamber

ABSTRACT

The expansible baling chamber of a large round baler is constructed so as to have chamber-forming elements that act to bias a forming bale away from the chamber inlet so that harvest entering the inlet will be more easily wrapped onto the bale, these chamber-forming elements, in some embodiments, also acting to increase the tension of tensioning means forming part of the baling chamber. Also aiding in the delivery of harvest to the baling chamber is a conveyor having portions located within the chamber inlet.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention pertains to a round baler having an expansiblebaling chamber, and more specifically relates to the arrangement ofvarious components forming the baling chamber.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] DE-A1-198 10 074 discloses a round baler having a baling chamber,the size of which can be varied due to the fact that belts arecompliantly supported on rollers, with the belts forming a loop betweentwo rollers situated on the sides of an inlet, and with the balingchamber being formed in said loop. A two-armed carrier that can bepivoted about the rotational axis of a lower roller is provided abovethe inlet. As the bale diameter increases, a central roller is pressedaway from the baling chamber such that a third, upper roller tensionsthe belts to a certain degree and thus increases the density of theround bale.

[0003] A comparable arrangement for tightening belts of this type isdisclosed in DE-A1-198 51 470. However, only one roller is arranged on apivoted carrier in this case, with the pivoting movement of the carrierbeing controlled by the tensioning arm of the belts.

[0004] According to EP-A1-0 339 730, a baling chamber is surrounded bybelts and rollers, with four rollers being arranged on a pivoted carrierand partially encompassing the baling chamber. The belts extend througha gap between a roller situated farthest from the pivoting axis of thecarrier and a roller situated adjacent thereto. Due to these measures,the walls surrounding the baling chamber are coupled to one another anda high tension is exerted upon the round bale.

[0005] The problem to be solved with the invention can be seen in thefact that the supply of new material is difficult to introduce into thebaling chamber when the forming bale has a high density.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] According to the present invention there is provided an improvedstructure for defining an expansible baling chamber of a large roundbaler.

[0007] An object of the invention is to provide a large round balerhaving an expansible baling chamber that is constructed so as tofacilitate the feeding of harvest into the baling chamber.

[0008] A more specific object of the invention is to provide a largeround baler having an expansible baling chamber having a forward partpartially defined by a plurality of rolls mounted to a carrier pivotallymounted to the opposite side walls of the baling chamber, with one ormore of the rolls having a flexible tension means, that forms part ofthe baling chamber, engaged therewith such as to cause the carrier topivot to press the other roll(s) against the forming bale so to force itaway from the bale chamber inlet so as to create a space for allowingthe ingress of the harvest.

[0009] A further object of the invention is to provide a large roundbaler as defined in the immediately preceding object, wherein thecarrier is so shaped and the roll(s) engaged by the tension means are solocated that the carrier causes an increase in the tension of thetension means as the bale increases in size.

[0010] Yet another object of the invention is to provide a large roundbaler as defined in the immediately preceding object, and furtherincluding a harvest conveyor which is located partially within thebaling chamber inlet for positively delivering the harvest through theinlet.

[0011] These and other objects will become apparent from a reading ofthe ensuing description together with the appended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012]FIG. 1 is a schematic, left side view of a large round balerhaving a baling chamber, formed in accordance with a first embodiment ofthe invention, and shown in a condition at the beginning of the balingprocess.

[0013]FIG. 2 is a view like that of FIG. 1, but showing the balingchamber in a condition at the end of the baling process.

[0014]FIG. 3 is a schematic, left side view of a large round balerhaving a baling chamber, formed in accordance with a second embodimentof the invention, and shown in a condition at the beginning of thebaling process.

[0015]FIG. 4 is a view like that of FIG. 3 but showing the balingchamber in a condition at the end of the baling process.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0016] Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a large round baler 10having a front frame 12 and a rear discharge gate 14. The baler 10conventionally serves for receiving a mowed harvest and compressing thisharvest into round bales of variable size.

[0017] The frame 12 includes an axle 16 on which is mounted wheels 18, ahitch 20 and side walls 22, with the frame carrying a pick-up 24, aconveyor 26, a cutting mechanism 28, a bottom conveyor 30 and a carrier32 with rollers 34, deflection rollers 36, a tensioning device 38 andtension means 40. The frame 12 is supported on the ground by means ofthe axle 16 and the wheels 18 such that the round baler 10 can be towedover a field by a not-shown towing vehicle.

[0018] The hitch 20 is unyieldingly, compliantly or movably connected tothe frame 12 and serves for connecting the round baler 10 to the towingvehicle. The side walls 22 are rigidly mounted on the frame 12 andlaterally limit a baling chamber 42 for a round bale 44.

[0019] The pick-up 24 is conventionally constructed and has the samewidth or a greater width than the baling chamber 42. The pick-up 24collects the harvest that lies on the ground with prongs 46 that conveyin an overshot fashion and moves the harvest to a cutting mechanism 28along a transport surface that is not illustrated, with the harvestbeing fed into the baling chamber 42 from the cutting mechanism.

[0020] The conveyor 26 operates in an undershot fashion and isconstructed in the form of a rotor that assists in feeding the harvestdelivered by the pick-up 24 into the cutting mechanism 28. The conveyor26 may have a smooth surface or be equipped with drivers, prongs teeth,ribs, screws or the like.

[0021] The cutting mechanism 28 customarily contains a bottom 48, acover 50, a rotor 52, knives 54 and strippers 56. The cutting mechanism28 is not important for the invention and is only cited as a supplementfor this embodiment; it is in particular, possible to omit the knives 54such that the rotor 52 simply acts as a conveyor. If the cuttingmechanism 28 is provided, it serves for comminuting the harvestdelivered by the pick-up 24 such that it can be better compacted in thebaling chamber 42.

[0022] The bottom 48 extends between the pick-up 24 and the bottomconveyor 30 and has a curvature that essentially follows the radius ofthe rotor 52.

[0023] The cover 50 has the same curvature and extends between theconveyor 26 and the carrier 32 or a roller 34 arranged on the lower endregion of the carrier, respectively. The bottom 48 and the cover 50 forma receptacle opening upstream of the rotor 52 and an inlet 58 of thebaling chamber 42 downstream of the rotor, with the inlet simultaneouslybeing limited by the lower roller 34 and the bottom conveyor 30. Whenviewing the round baler 10 from the left, the inlet 58 is situated inthe first quadrant of the rotor 52 and is consequently arrangedessentially laterally thereto.

[0024] The rotor 52 includes a central tube 60 and drivers 62 that areattached to the central tube 60 such that they are curved in a trailingfashion. The central tube 60 is driven in the clockwise direction bymeans of a not-shown drive when viewing the round baler 10 from the leftside. The drivers 62 essentially have a triangular shape, the tip ofwhich extends almost to the bottom 48 and the cover 50. A total of fiverows of drivers 62 are welded or screwed onto the central tube 60 alonghelical lines, with the drivers 62 being spaced apart from one anotherin the axial direction of the rotor 52. The rotor 52 has a significantdiameter of approximately 0.6 m.

[0025] The knives 54 are constructed conventionally and can preferablybe locked in different positions, with the knives also being able toyield in case of an overload. Theknives 54 exetnd into all or only a fewof theintermediate spaces between the drivers 62 through slots in thecover 50 that are not visible in the figures. The knvies 54 are held bya commonly adjustable carrier that is not illustrated in the figures andmay extend up to the central tube 60 in one end position and up to theinner side of the cover 50 in the other end position. As mentionedpreviously, the knives 54 can also be omitted such that the rotor 52does not perform a cutting function, but rather only acts as a conveyingrotor 52. The knives 54 are situated above the rotor 52 and upstream ofthe inlet 58.

[0026] The strippers 56 are situated upstream of the knives 54 and alsoarranged in the intermediate spaces between the drivers 62. An upperedge of the drivers 62 extends in a slightly descending fashion towardthe cover plate 14 and is slightly bent. The strippers 56 border thecentral tube 60 on one side and the bottom conveyor 30 on the otherside, with the strippers very closely following their contour. Theposition of the strippers 56 is chosen such that the round bale 44 isable to partially support itself on the strippers in the initial phaseof the baling process, with the strippers consequently covering acertain part of the inlet 58.

[0027] In this embodiment, the bottom conveyor 30 is formed by tworollers 64 that are mounted stationary in a rotatable fashion in theframe 12 or its side walls 22, respectively, and have a relatively largediameter. The rear roller 64 is arranged lower than the front roller 64and situated directly above the axle 16. A descending transport surfaceis thus created on the two rollers 64. Instead of using two rollers 64,it would also be conceivable to provide a larger or smaller quantity ofrollers, a chain conveyor, a conveyor belt or the like. The bottomconveyor 30 limits the baling chamber 42 in its lower region with partof its circumference. The rollers 64 are preferably driven.

[0028] The carrier 32 is constructed in the form of a rail that isresistant to bending and provided twice, namely on each side wall 22. Inthis case, sufficiently known reinforcing elements that are notillustrated in the figures are provided between the two carriers. Thecarrier 32 can be pivoted vertically about a horizontal pivoting axis 66that extends transverse to the driving direction of the round baler 10.The pivoting axis 66 is situated between the ends of the carrier 32,namely approximately in its center in this particular embodiment, suchthat it is able to move similar to a rocker.

[0029] Assuming three rollers 34 are provided, which is not absolutelyimperative, the rollers 34 consist of a lower roller, a central rollerand an upper roller 34. The rollers 34 are rotatably accommodatedbetween the two carriers 32 and extend over the entire width of thebaling chamber 42. The arrangement is chosen such that, once the roundbale 44 essentially has reached its full size, the surfaces or edgesfacing the round bale 44 lie on a curved surface that follows thediameter of the round bale 44. The diameters of the lower roller and thecentral roller 34 are greater than the diameter of the upper roller 34.The lower roller 34 is always situated near the rear edge of the cover50. The rotational axis of the central roller 34 simultaneously formsthe pivoting axis 66. However this is not absolutely imperative and maybe achieved differently in other embodiments. The pivoting axis 66 may,in particular, be offset toward the bottom, toward the top, toward thefront or toward the rear. A gap through which the tension means 40extends is formed between the central roller and the upper roller 34.The lower roller and the central roller 34 directly form part of thewall of the baling chamber 42, with the harvest being baled thereindirectly acting upon said rollers.

[0030] Several deflection rollers 36, of which at least one is driven,extend between the side walls 22, with said deflection rollers partiallybeing rotatably supported in said side walls parallel to the rollers 34.According to FIG. 1, four deflection rollers 36 are arranged essentiallyin the corner points of a trapezoid, about which the tension means 40revolves in an endless fashion. Three of the four deflection rollers 36are stationarily supported on the intermediate walls 22, with onedeflection roller being movably supported on the tensioning device 38.

[0031] The tensioning device 38 conventionally includes an arm 68, abearing 70 and an energy storing device 72. The arm 68 is formed by amassive steel rail and provided twice analogous to the carriers 32,i.e., in the region of both side walls 22. The arm 68 extends almostover the entire length of the side wall 22 and is provided with twodeflection rollers 36 in the end region that is situated distant fromthe bearing 70. These two deflection rollers are spaced apart from oneanother in the radial direction. One of the deflection rollers 36 issituated in an interior space that is surrounded by the tension means40. The arm 68 extends beyond the bearing 70 in the end region that issituated proximal to the bearing 70 and slightly angled so as to form alever arm 74. The bearing 70 accommodates the arm 68 in a verticallypivoted fashion with the end region situated opposite to the deflectionrollers 36. For this purpose, a separate bearing 70 may be respectivelyprovided on each end wall 22 or one bearing may extend between the sidewalls 22.

[0032] The energy storing device 72 is constructed in the form of ahelical tension spring in this embodiment; alternatively, it would bepossible to utilize a hydraulic cylinder with a gas pressure accumulatoror a throttle, a different type of spring, a combination thereof or thelike. The energy storing device 72 is mounted on the lever arm 74 withone end and on the holder 76 with the other end, with the holderstationarily engaging on the frame 12 or the side wall 22. The energystoring device 72 normally is at least slightly pre-stressed. However,it would also be possible to construct an embodiment in which theresistance of the energy storing device 72 can be varied, e.g., by meansof a controllable throttle, such that a different compaction is realizedover the diameter of the round bale 44 and a soft core is achieved. Theeffective direction of the storing device 72 is chosen such that the arm68 with its deflection rollers 36 is always pressed toward the inlet 58,i.e., in the sense of the smallest baling chamber 42 possible.

[0033] The tension means 40 is conventionally formed of several narrowbelts that extend parallel to one another in this embodiment. Thetension means 40 that is assigned to the frame 12 represents a closedtension means and is provided separately of a tension means provided inthe discharge gate 14; however, this is not absolutely imperative. Itwould also be conceivable to utilize only one tension means 40 in theframe 12 and the discharge gate 14. Beginning at the deflection roller36 situated on the arm 68, the tension means 40 extends in a clockwisedirection through the gap between the upper and central roller 34arranged on the carrier 32, over a lower front deflection roller, anupper front deflection roller and an upper rear deflection roller 36 inthe frame 12. Due to the ability to pivot the arm 68 and the carrier 32,the section of the tension means 40 which extends between the gap andthe movable deflection roller 36 can be subjected to an excursion andvaried with respect to its size. This section represents part of thewall of the baling chamber 42 and is directly acted upon by the harvestsituated in the baling chamber 42.

[0034] The baling chamber 42 has a variable size and is bordered by itsinlet 58, the rollers 34 arranged on the carrier 32, the part of thetension means 40 which extends between the gap and the movabledeflection rollers 36, a tension means section in the discharge gate 14,and the bottom conveyor 30. On the end faces, the baling chamber 42 isessentially closed by the side walls 22.

[0035] The round bale 44 is formed of the harvest that is wound up in ahelical fashion and ultimately reaches the size indicated in FIG. 2. Inorder to unload the round bale 44 from the baling chamber 42, thedischarge gate 14 is raised such that the round bale 44 is able to rollalong the bottom conveyor and then onto the ground. The density of theround bale 44 is attained with the tension of the tension means 40 whichis generated by the energy of the energy storage device 72.

[0036] The discharge gate 14 is connected to the frame 12 in avertically pivoted fashion by means of a bearing 78 with the pivotingmovement being caused by sufficiently known hydraulic cylinders that arenot illustrated in the figures. The discharge gate 14 includes oppositeside walls 80, several deflection rollers 82 and a closed, endlesstension means 84. The side walls 80 respectively extend in the sameplanes as do the side walls 22 of the frame 12 and close the balingchamber 42 on its end faces. Conventional, not-shown reinforcingelements extend between the side walls 80.

[0037] The four deflection rollers 82 used in this embodiment aremounted in fixed locations, but accommodated in the side walls 80 in arotatable fashion, with the deflection rollers extending over the entirewidth of the baling chamber 42 parallel to the deflection rollers 36.The deflection rollers 82 consist of an upper front deflection roller,an upper rear deflection roller, a lower rear deflection roller and alower front deflection roller. The lower front deflection roller 82 liesin the immediate vicinity of the rear lower roller 64 of the bottomconveyor 30. A deflection roller 82 that is carried by the arms 68 andsituated in the immediate vicinity of the corresponding deflectionroller 36 arranged on the arms 68 is provided between the lower frontdeflection roller and the upper front deflection roller 82. Thevertically movable deflection roller 82 subjects the section of thetension means 84 which extends between the upper front deflection rollerand the lower front deflection roller 82 to a forward excursion in thedirection of the inlet 58.

[0038] The tension means 84 is constructed analogous to the tensionmeans 40 in the frame 12 and extends over all aforementioned deflectionrollers 82 in the discharge gate 14. The section of the tension means 84which extends between the movable deflection roller and the lower frontdeflection roller 82 forms a length-adjustable part of the wall of thebaling chamber 42.

[0039] According to the previous description, the round baler 10according to FIGS. 1 and 2 functions as described below.

[0040] In a not-shown situation in which the arm 68 is situated in itslowest position due to the effect of the energy storing device 72, thecarrier 32 approximately assumes the position shown in FIG. 1 and thesections of the tension means 40 between the upper roller 34 arranged onthe carrier 32, the movable deflection roller 36 or the movabledeflection roller 82, respectively, and the lower front deflectionroller 82 essentially lies in a plane that extends from the front towardthe rear at an incline of approximately 45°. In this case, the balingchamber 42 assumes a triangular shape, the hypotenuse of which is formedby the two aforementioned sections, with the triangle almost standing onone of its tips. The baling chamber 42 has the smallest possible volumein this instance.

[0041] At the beginning of the baling process, the round baler 10 ismoved over a field on which the harvest is, for example, arranged inswaths, with the harvest being collected by means of the pick-up 24 andfed to the cutting mechanism 28. The rotor 52 conveys the harvest intothe baling chamber 42 in an overshot fashion and, if applicable, pastthe knives 54. In the baling chamber, the harvest comes in contact withthe sections of the tension means 40 and 84 which revolve in the samedirection. Due to the cooperation between the rotatable support and, ifapplicable, the drive of the rollers 64 and the rollers 34 and thepacking surface of the tension means 40 and 84, the harvest begins torotate once it reaches a sufficient volume, namely in thecounterclockwise direction in the figures. In another embodiment, theround bale 44 may also be wound up in the clockwise direction.

[0042] As the baling process progresses, the round baler 10 reaches theoperating state shown in FIG. 1, namely the operating state in which thearm 68 is slightly moved upward against the force of the energy storingdevice 72. This causes the sections to be subjected to an upwardexcursion such that they are displaced out of the common plane andassume the shape of an obtuse roof. The carrier 32 is slightly pivotedin the counterclockwise direction about the pivoting axis 66 such thatits lower roller 34 moves into the baling chamber 42. In this position,the round bale 44 is supported on the front roller 64 of the bottomconveyor and on the strippers 56.

[0043] As the baling process progresses, the round bale 44 reaches asize shown in FIG. 2. In this operating state, the arm 68 is completelypivoted upward and the energy storing device 73 is completely tensionedsuch that the highest density possible is achieved on thecircumferential surface of the round bale 44. Since the bottom conveyor30 is unable to yield, the round bale 44 is built up toward the top suchthat its circumferential surface presses against the upper roller 34 andpivots the carrier 32 about the pivoting axis 66 in the counterclockwisedirection. Since the pivoting axis 66 is situated between the ends ofthe carrier 32, this pivoting movement causes the lower end region ofthe carrier 32 to move into the baling chamber 42 with the lower roller34 such that the round bale 44 is displaced toward the rear and now onlysupported on the bottom conveyor 30 and the lower front deflectionroller 82 in the discharge gate 14. Since the round bale 44 no longerslides directed past the inlet 58, the process of feeding additionalharvest into the baling chamber 42 is simplified. Since three rollers 34press against the circumferential surface of the round bale 44 in theregion of the carrier 32, superior guidance of the round bale 44 andhigh compaction are achieved.

[0044]FIGS. 3 and 4 show an embodiment of the invention which largelycorresponds to the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 and 2 and alsofulfills the same function. However, the carrier 32 in this embodimentaccording to FIGS. 3 and 4 contains an arm 86 with one additional roller88.

[0045] The arm 86 essentially protrudes from the carrier 32perpendicularly, namely in the direction toward the lower frontdeflection roller 36 in the frame 12. The arm 86 is rigidly connected tothe carrier 32 in the region of the upper roller 34. The alignment ischosen such that the roller 88 carried by the arm 86 always adjoins theinner side of the tension means 40. The length of the arm 86 is chosensuch that a lever arm is formed which, when pivoting the carrier 32 inthe counterclockwise direction, subjects the section between the movabledeflection roller and the lower front deflection roller 36 in the frame12 to a noticeable additional excursion. Due to the excursion of thissection, the tension in the tension means 40 is additionally increasedat the end of the baling or winding process.

[0046] Having described the preferred embodiment, it will becomeapparent that various modifications can be made without departing fromthe scope of the invention as defined in the accompanying claims.

1. In a large round baler including a baling chamber defined in part byat least one endless tension means and by a plurality of rollers,wherein at least three of said plurality of rollers are mounted to acarrier positioned at a front location of said baling chamber adjacentan inlet of the baling chamber, said carrier being mounted for pivotingabout a horizontal, transverse axis, and, with respect to said inlet,said tension means being engaged with at least a remote first one ofsaid at least three of said plurality of rollers, the improvementcomprising: said tension means, carrier and remote first one of said atleast three of said plurality of rollers being so arranged relative toeach other and to said inlet that forces exerted on said tension meansduring formation of a bale will cause the carrier to be pivoted aboutsaid axis such as to urge at least a second one of said at least threeof said plurality of rollers directly against said bale in a directioncausing the bale to be positioned so as leave a gap between said baleand said inlet, thus creating a space aiding in feeding of harvest intothe baling chamber.
 2. The large round baler, as defined in claim 1,wherein said carrier projects upwardly from said inlet; and said atleast first one of said at least three of said plurality of rollersbeing an uppermost one of said at least three of said plurality ofrollers.
 3. The large round baler, as defined in claim 1, wherein saidcarrier projects upwardly from said inlet; said at least three of saidplurality of rollers being spaced along said carrier such that anintermediate one of said at least three of said plurality of rollers iscoincident with said axis.
 4. The large round baler, as defined in claim1, wherein said at least second one of said plurality of rollers beinglarger in diameter than said at least first on of said plurality ofrollers.
 5. The large round baler, as defined in claim 4, wherein saidat least three of said plurality of rollers includes only one rollerwhich is engaged by said tension means and two rollers which are locatedfor direct engagement with said bale, with said two rollers being equalin diameter and larger in diameter than said only one roller.
 6. Thelarge round baler, as defined in claim 1, wherein said carrier is atwo-armed structure, with a first arm extending upwardly from saidinlet; said plurality of rollers including three rollers mounted to saidfirst arm, with an upper one of said three rollers being mounted at anupper location of said first arm; said carrier including a second armprojecting forwardly from said upper location of said first arm andhaving a fourth roller mounted to a forward end location thereof; andsaid tension means being engaged with said upper one and fourth rollers,such that, as said carrier pivots about said axis, said tension means istensioned by movement of said second arm and fourth roller.
 7. The largeround baler, as defined in claim 1, wherein said at least three rollersof said plurality of rollers are located along an arc having a centerspaced rearward of said carrier and which is approximately coaxial witha formed bale of a maximum diameter that can be produced by said baler.8. The large round baler, as defined in claim 1, wherein a harvest feedrotor is provided upstream of said inlet of said baling chamber andtraces a path that protrudes within said inlet.
 9. The large roundbaler, as defined in claim 8, where said rotor operates in an overshotfashion.
 10. The large round baler, as defined in claim 9, wherein saidrotor includes a plurality of transversely spaced flat blades; andfurther including a knife arrangement which includes a plurality oftransversely spaced knives located above and projecting towards saidrotor for cooperating with said flat blades for reducing said harvest tosmaller pieces before entering said inlet.